Standardized recreational vehicle sanitary system

ABSTRACT

A sanitary system including a toilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle including the toilet and sanitary system. The sanitary system includes a horizontally offset waste storage receptacle to be installed in a stowage compartment of the recreational vehicle; a discharge port having an angular portion to be located at least partially above a floor of the recreational vehicle, such that the discharge port defines an interior passage directing waste through the floor of the recreational vehicle at an angle relative to a vertical axis in a direction toward the waste storage receptacle; and a toilet having a fitting disposed within a base portion to be secured to the floor of the recreational vehicle, the fitting defining an interior passage between the toilet and the discharge port, wherein the fitting is sized to communicate with the discharge port in a manner that allows the angular portion of the discharge port to be located at least partially above the floor of the recreational vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is directed in general to waste handlingsystems, and more particularly to a standardized sanitary system thatcan be installed in a recreational vehicle such that waste is dischargedfrom the toilet at a point that is not horizontally aligned with aninlet of a waste storage receptacle. According to the present invention,the waste storage receptacle can be installed to make efficient use ofthe limited space of the recreational vehicle.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Recreational vehicle (“RV”) manufacturers offer potential buyersa variety of RV models to choose from. Each model is unique and containsfeatures adapted to fit the needs of particular buyers. To meet theseneeds and include all of the desired features in the RV, the RVmanufacturer must install components at locations that make efficientuse of the limited space within the RV. This often requires thecomponents to be altered for such efficient installation on thedifferent RV models offered by the RV manufacturer, requiring themanufacturer to inventory large numbers of these components.

[0005] Sanitary systems for RVs are included in the group of componentsthat are custom installed depending on the model of the RV. Aconventional gravity feed RV toilet is installed directly above areceptacle that receives and holds human waist, commonly referred to asa holding tank. As the name of the toilet implies, waste in the toiletis flushed along with an optional flush solution through a vertical pipethat forms an interior passage from a bowl portion of the toilet to theholding tank. Thus, gravity drains the waste from the bowl portion intothe holding tank. According to this arrangement, though, the outlet ofthe bowl has to be horizontally aligned in registry with an inlet of theholding tank. This requirement prevents the RV manufacturer from placingany component other than the holding tank directly below the toilet,even if this is not the most efficient arrangement of the components.

[0006] To allow the RV manufacturer some discretion in choosing alocation for the holding tank relative to the toilet, an angular fittingwas included at the outlet of the bowl portion to incline the previouslyvertical pipe defining the passage between the bowl portion and theholding tank. To prevent blockage of the pipe, the angular fitting cannot hold the pipe in an orientation that deviated more than 45° from thevertical position. Due to space limitations on the RV, a step wasinstalled under the toilet to maximize the distance between the toiletand the holding tank. By maximizing this distance, the angular fittingallowed the pipe to extend a substantial horizontal distance away fromthe position directly beneath the toilet. This allows the holding tankto be installed at a horizontally offset position relative to the outletof the toilet, if needed, to make efficient use of the limited space onthe RV. However, to prevent the height of a seat of the toilet fromexceeding a suitable height to accommodate a majority of users, areduced height base portion of the toilet is used to offset the addedheight from the step. The height of the step varies with the model ofthe RV and the amount of horizontal displacement between the holdingtank inlet and the outlet of the bowl portion required to efficientlyinstall the holding tank. Since components such as the toilet aretypically supplied to the RV manufacturer by third parties, the RVmanufacturer is required to inventory a number of toilets with differentbase portion heights to ensure their availability during production ofRVs.

[0007] Alternatives to gravity feed toilets have been developed toovercome such difficulties. Vacuum feed toilets operate by creating avacuum at the outlet of the bowl portion to remove waste therein. Justas with the gravity feed toilets, the waste removed from the bowlportion is stored in the holding tank. But unlike the gravity feedtoilets, the pipe defining the passage between the bowl portion and theholding tank can form an angle of greater than 45° from the verticalposition because the vacuum will prevent blockage of the pipe withwaste. However, such vacuum feed toilets are expensive and requireadditional features to be installed in the RV, features that occupy moreof the already limited available space.

[0008] Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a low-cost toiletadapted for use on a RV that would give the RV manufacturer discretionin locating the holding tank in a horizontally offset position relativeto the toilet. The toilet should not require structural modifications ofthe RV, and should have a standardized design such that it can beinstalled on different models of RVS.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention includes atoilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle to discharge waste to ahorizontally offset receptacle installed in the recreational vehicle.The toilet includes a bowl portion shaped to receive and direct wastethrough an outlet formed in the bowl portion, a base portion supportedon a floor of the recreational vehicle to support the bowl portion andform at least part of an enclosure that has a vertical axis extendingthrough the base portion and the bowl portion, a discharge port definingan interior passage to be located adjacent to a floor of therecreational vehicle to direct waste through the floor toward thereceptacle, and a fitting to couple the discharge port to the outlet ofthe bowl portion. The fitting is sized to permit at least part of anangular portion of the discharge port to be located within the enclosurethat is at least partially formed by the base to direct waste beingdischarged in a direction toward the receptacle.

[0010] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention furtherincludes a sanitary system adapted for use in a recreational vehicle todischarge waste to a horizontally offset destination. The sanitarysystem includes a horizontally offset waste storage receptacle to beinstalled in a stowage compartment of the recreational vehicle; adischarge port having an angular portion to be located at leastpartially above a floor of the recreational vehicle such that thedischarge port defines an interior passage directing waste through afloor of the recreational vehicle at an angle relative to a verticalaxis in a direction toward the waste storage receptacle; and a toilethaving a fitting disposed within a base portion to be secured to a floorof the recreational vehicle. The fitting defines an interior passagebetween the toilet and the discharge port, wherein the fitting is sizedto communicate with the discharge port in a manner that allows theangular portion of the discharge port to be located at least partiallyabove the floor of the recreational vehicle.

[0011] In accordance with yet another aspect, the present inventionfurther includes a recreational vehicle having a sanitary system thatdischarges waste to a horizontally offset destination. The recreationalvehicle includes an interior divided into a cabin and a stowagecompartment by a floor, the interior being defined by upright walls, aroof, and a base mounted on a mobile chassis; a toilet disposed withinthe cabin of the recreational vehicle interior, the toilet having a bowlportion supported on a base portion that extends between the bowlportion and the floor; a waste storage receptacle disposed within thestowage compartment of the recreational vehicle interior andhorizontally offset relative to the toilet for receiving and storingwaste deposited in the bowl portion of the toilet; a discharge porthaving an angular portion adapted to direct waste through an aperture inthe floor at an angle relative to a vertical axis; and a conduitdefining an interior passage between the discharge port and the wastestorage receptacle through which waste can pass. The toilet according tothe yet another aspect includes a fitting within the base portion, thefitting being sized to permit the location of the angular portion atleast partially above the floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which thepresent invention relates upon reading the following description withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of an example arrangement of astandardized sanitary system including a toilet, in accordance with thepresent invention, as installed in a RV, a portion of the RV being cutaway to illustrate the standardized sanitary system in an environment inwhich it is intended to be used;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an illustrativearrangement of a standardized sanitary system including a toilet, inaccordance with the present invention, relative to a holding tankdisposed generally in horizontal alignment with an outlet of thestandardized toilet; and

[0015]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an illustrativearrangement of a standardized sanitary system including a toilet, inaccordance with the present invention, relative to a holding tank thatis horizontally offset from an outlet of the standardized toilet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0016] Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and isnot to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Further, inthe drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designatingthe same elements throughout the four figures, and in order to clearlyand concisely illustrate the present invention, certain features may beshown in somewhat schematic form.

[0017] An example of a recreational vehicle (“RV”) 10 having a sanitarysystem 12 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 1. RVS are known vehicles that generally include an occupantenclosure called a cabin 31 formed from upright walls 33, includingfront and rear walls, that extend between a roof 35 at one end and afloor 24 at the other end. The cabin 31 is supported above a stowagecompartment 41 formed between the floor 24 and a base 36. Components ofthe RV are disposed within the stowage compartment 41, which is oftenpartitioned into sub compartments to provide storage areas for itemssuch as luggage that typically accompany occupants of the RV duringtheir travels. The cabin 31 and stowage compartment 41 are mounted on amobile chassis having wheels 37 supported by a suitable suspensionsystem (not shown) to allow the RV to navigate public roads.

[0018]FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a sanitary system 12 locatedwithin the cabin of the RV 10. The sanitary system 12 includes a toilet14 having a bowl portion 17 that is supported by a base portion 21secured to the floor 24 of the RV 10. A waste storing receptacle,commonly referred to as a holding tank 27, is disposed generally beneaththe toilet in the stowage compartment 41 to receive waste that isgravitationally removed from the toilet 14. A plumbing network 23defines an interior passage through which waste is transported from thebowl portion 17 to the holding tank 27. In FIG. 1, the holding tank 27has been installed in the stowage compartment 41 at a location to makeefficient use of the limited space therein. In that location, an inlet43 of the holding tank 27 is horizontally offset relative to an outlet47 of the bowl portion 17.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a linear arrangement of the inlet 43 of the holdingtank 27 relative to the outlet 47 of the bowl portion 17. The outlet 47is concentric about an axis 71 and the inlet 43 is concentric about anaxis 75. The holding tank 27 is typically installed in the stowagecompartment 41 to separate the holding tank 27 from the cabin 31 of theRV 10 and to contain any objectionable odors or spillage from theholding tank 27. Installing the holding tank 27 such that the axis 75 ofthe inlet 43 is linearly aligned with the axis 71 of the outlet 47horizontally aligns the outlet 47 and the inlet 43 in vertical registry.According to this arrangement, gravity moves waste from the bowl portion17, through the outlet 47 and the plumbing network 23, and directly intothe holding tank 27 via the inlet 43.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows an example arrangement including installation of theholding tank 27 at a location such that the outlet 47 and the inlet 43are not horizontally aligned in vertical registry. Instead, the outlet47 and the inlet 43 are horizontally offset from each other. Accordingto this example arrangement, the axis 75 and the axis 71 are notlinearly aligned, but separated by a distance X in a radial directionfrom either axis. A conduit 79 forming an angle Θ with the axis 71defines an interior passage through which waste can pass from adischarge port 65 to the inlet 43 of the holding tank 27. Waste can thusbreak the plane of the floor 24 through aperture 90 at the angle 0 as itis being transported to the holding tank 27. The conduit 79 can includean angular portion 83 to provide a generally orthogonal communicationbetween the conduit 79 and the inlet 43 of the holding tank 27.

[0021] The bowl portion 17 includes a toilet bowl 51 having an opening(not shown) through which occupants of the RV can deposit waste into thesanitary system 12. A rim of the toilet bowl 51 is covered by a cap 53extending from a tank structure 55 forming a rear portion of the toilet14. The tank structure 55 is to be installed adjacent a wall 33 of theRV 10 to contain a flush solution (not shown) such as water, soap,fragrance, disinfectant, or a combination thereof for example, topartially suspend waste being gravitationally removed from the toilet14. RVS 10 can include a reservoir (not shown) for storing a supply ofthe flushing solution and/or an interface (not shown) capable of linkingthe sanitary system 12 to an external source of the flushing solution. Aswitch 56 is disposed adjacent to the tank structure 55 to activate therelease of the flush solution when removal of the waste from the bowlportion 17 is desired.

[0022] Further included as part of the bowl portion 17 are a seat 57 anda lid 61 pivotally connected to the bowl portion 17 by a hinge assembly63. The seat 57 and lid 61 can be pivoted between a down position and anup position. FIG. 2 illustrates both the seat 57 and the lid 61 in thedown position. The seat 57 is formed to provide a contoured surfaceabout at least a portion of the circumference of the rim of the toiletbowl 51 without interfering with the passage of waste through theopening in the toilet bowl 51. When the seat is placed in the downposition, it provides a contoured surface upon which an occupant of theRV can sit to deposit waste into the toilet bowl 51. Between uses of thesanitary system, the lid 61 can be placed in the down position to coverthe opening in the toilet bowl 51 to prevent items from inadvertentlyentering the toilet bowl 51 When the seat 57 and/or lid 61 are place inthe up position, they are maintained in an upright orientation, allowingcomplete exposure of the opening in the toilet bowl 51.

[0023] The toilet bowl 51 is suitably shaped to direct waste thereinthrough the outlet 47. For example, the toilet bowl may be arcuatelyshaped to impart a vertical force and a horizontal force on the waste asa result of the gravitational force. Another example of a suitablyshaped bowl 51 is a toilet bowl 51 having inclined surfaces thatlikewise impart a vertical and horizontal force on the waste beingsubjected to gravity. In both examples, the toilet bowl 51 has afunneling effect on the waste to direct it generally toward the outlet47. Waste directed in this manner passes through the outlet 47 formed inthe toilet bowl 51 and enters the interior passage defined by theplumbing network 23.

[0024] The plumbing network 23 includes the discharge port 65 coupled tothe bowl portion 17 by a fitting 69 in communication with the outlet 47.The fitting 69 is suitably sized to permit location of at least part ofan angular portion 85 of the discharge port 65 to be located within theenclosure formed by the base portion 21 when the plumbing network 23 isinstalled. The enclosure formed by the base portion 21 is bounded in aradial direction from the axis 71 between the tank structure 55 and thebase portion 21, and bounded in an axial direction along the axis 71between the bowl portion 17 and the floor 24. Accordingly, a length ofthe discharge port 65 within the enclosure formed by the base portion 21is not necessarily concentric about the axis 71, but is insteadconcentric about an axis 89 forming the angle Θ with the axis 71. Thelength of the discharge port 65 can extend through an aperture 90 in thefloor 24, thereby providing an interior passage through the plane of thefloor 24. In this orientation, the waste passes through the plain of thefloor 24 at the angle 0 as it is being transported to the holding tank.

[0025] A riser 91 supports the plumbing network 23 at a suitable heightabove the floor 24 to ensure communication with the outlet 47 of thebowl portion. The riser 91 includes a platform 93 having a hole 95formed therein through which the discharge port 65 extends. Members 101support the platform at the suitable height above the floor 24 atlocations about the hole 95. A collar 97 disposed adjacent to an end ofthe discharge port 65 has a greater diameter than that of the dischargeport 65 itself. This collar is supported on a surface of the platform 93to maintain the height of the discharge port 65 above the floor 24.

[0026] Although the present invention has been described above toinclude a riser 91 supporting the plumbing network 23, it can beappreciated by those skilled in the art that other suitable structurescan be used in the place of the riser 91. For example, the height of theplatform 93 can be supported by members (not shown) extending from aportion of the toilet 14. The scope of the present invention includesthese other suitable structures.

[0027] A fastener 105 couples the discharge port 65 to the fitting 69 toprovide a sealed connection. The fastener 105 includes a locking feature109 to be used with a compatible locking feature 111 of the collar 97,thereby maintaining the position of the fastener 105 relative to thecollar 97. Such locking features 105, 111 can include a compatible taband slot assembly, alignable holes through which a common fastener canextend, and/or an adhesive, for example. A gasket 113 to be locatedbetween the fastener 105 and the fitting 69 minimizes leakage of theflush solution and waste at this connection.

[0028] From the above description of the invention, those skilled in theart will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Suchimprovements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art areintended to be covered by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet adapted for use in a recreationalvehicle to discharge waste to a horizontally offset receptacle installedin the recreational vehicle, the toilet comprising: a bowl portionshaped to receive and direct waste through an outlet formed in the bowlportion; a base portion supported on a floor of the recreational vehicleto support the bowl portion and form at least part of an enclosure thathas a vertical axis extending through the base portion and the bowlportion; a discharge port defining an interior passage to be locatedadjacent to the floor to direct waste through the floor toward thereceptacle; and a fitting to couple the discharge port to the outlet ofthe bowl portion, wherein the fitting is sized to permit at least partof an angular portion of the discharge port to be located within theenclosure that is at least partially formed by the base to direct wastebeing discharged in a direction toward the receptacle.
 2. The toiletaccording to claim 1 further comprising a riser to be disposed withinthe enclosure adjacent to the floor to support the discharge port at aheight above the floor to allow the discharge port to communicate withthe fitting.
 3. The toilet according to claim 2, wherein the risercomprises a platform having a hole formed therein, the platform to besupported at the height above the floor by upright members extendingbetween the floor and the platform at locations about the hole.
 4. Thetoilet according to claim 3, wherein the discharge port extends throughthe hole in the platform such that the at least part of the angularportion of the discharge port is to be disposed between the floor andthe platform when the toilet is installed in the recreational vehicle.5. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the angular portion of thedischarge port forms an angle relative to a vertical axis within therange of 0 to 45 degrees.
 6. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein alength of the discharge port extends at an angle relative to a verticalaxis through an aperture formed in a floor of the recreational vehicle.7. The toilet according to claim 1 further comprising a gasket to sealthe connection of the fitting and the discharge port.
 8. A toiletadapted for use in a recreational vehicle having a waste storagereceptacle that is horizontally offset relative to the toilet, and adischarge port defining an interior passage that extends through a floorof the recreational vehicle, the toilet comprising: a bowl portionshaped to receive and direct waste through an outlet formed in the bowlportion; a base portion supported on the floor to support the bowlportion and to form at least part of an enclosure that has a verticalaxis extending through the base portion and the bowl portion; and afitting defining an interior passage between the outlet and thedischarge port, wherein the fitting is sized to permit at least part ofan angular portion of the discharge port to be located within theenclosure, the angular portion of the discharge port being adapted todirect waste in a direction toward the receptacle.
 9. The toiletaccording to claim 8 further comprising a riser to support the fittingat a height above the floor to allow the fitting to communicate with theoutlet.
 10. The toilet according to claim 9, wherein the riser is toadditionally support the discharge port at a height such that theangular portion of the discharge port disposed within the enclosure islocated above the floor.
 11. The toilet according to claim 8 furthercomprising a gasket to seal a connection of the fitting to the dischargeport.
 12. A sanitary system adapted for use in a recreational vehicle todischarge waste to a horizontally offset destination, the sanitarysystem comprising: a horizontally offset waste storage receptacle to beinstalled in a stowage compartment of the recreational vehicle; adischarge port having an angular portion to be located at leastpartially above a floor of the recreational vehicle, wherein thedischarge port defines an interior passage directing waste through thefloor of the recreational vehicle at an angle relative to a verticalaxis in a direction toward the waste storage receptacle; and a toilethaving a fitting disposed within a base portion to be secured to thefloor of the recreational vehicle, the fitting defining an interiorpassage between the toilet and the discharge port, wherein the fittingis sized to communicate with the discharge port in a manner that allowsthe angular portion of the discharge port to be located at leastpartially above the floor of the recreational vehicle.
 13. The sanitarysystem according to claim 12 further comprising a riser to be locatedwithin the base portion of the toilet and to support the fitting at aheight above the floor of the recreational vehicle.
 14. The sanitarysystem according to claim 13 further comprising a collar extending fromthe discharge port, wherein the discharge port is supported by thecollar upon the riser such that the discharge port extends through ahole in the riser.
 15. The sanitary system according to claim 12 furthercomprising a riser to be located within the base portion of the toiletand to support the discharge port at a height above the floor such thatthe angular portion of the discharge port is at least partially locatedabove the floor.
 16. The sanitary system according to claim 12 furthercomprising a gasket to seal the connection between the fitting and thedischarge port.
 17. The sanitary system according to claim 12 furthercomprising a conduit extending between the discharge port and an inletto the waste storage receptacle.
 18. The sanitary system according toclaim 17, wherein the conduit includes an angular portion to alloworthogonal communication between the conduit and the inlet to the wastestorage receptacle.
 19. A recreational vehicle having a sanitary systemthat discharges waste to a horizontally offset destination, therecreational vehicle comprising: an interior divided into a cabin and astowage compartment by a floor, the interior being defined by uprightwalls, a roof, and a base mounted on a mobile chassis; a toilet disposedwithin the cabin of the recreational vehicle interior, the toilet havinga bowl portion supported on a base portion that extends between the bowlportion and the floor; a waste storage receptacle disposed within thestowage compartment of the recreational vehicle interior andhorizontally offset relative to the toilet for receiving and storingwaste deposited in the bowl portion of the toilet; a discharge porthaving an angular portion adapted to direct waste through an aperture inthe floor at an angle relative to a vertical axis; and a conduitdefining an interior passage between the discharge port and the wastestorage receptacle through which waste can pass, wherein the toiletcomprises a fitting within the base portion, the fitting being sized topermit the location of the angular portion at least partially above thefloor.